MAC’s global senior artist shares his favourite products in this exclusive edit
With over 20 years in the industry under his belt, Dominic Skinner knows a thing or two about beauty. The global senior artist for MAC Cosmetics and TV judge on BBC Three’s Glow Up has worked the Fashion Week red carpets in New York, Milan, Paris and London.
It’s safe to say, if it’s not in his make-up kit, you probably don’t need to know about it. So naturally, we asked him which must-have MAC products he just can’t live without.
Make way for a new favourite shade
“With over 200 shades and more than 20 different finishes and formulas to choose from, MAC lipsticks are the go-to for finding that perfect shade,” says Dominic. “However, it’s their matte texture that they are most known for.
“It was MAC’s iconic Ruby Woo which made me first fall in love with MAC. It was the first MAC product I ever bought. The shade is the boldest red you’ve ever seen, and its true-blue red tone works on every skin tone and for any age.
“All the matte lipsticks go on cleanly with ease and have real staying power. So whether it’s nude like Velvet Teddy, bold like Candy Yum Yum or classic like Ruby Woo, you’ll find a shade to fall in love with too.”
Make sure your lipstick goes the distance
“What did we do before Prep + Prime Lip? If you love lipstick, then this is a must. Not only does it smooth and condition your lips, it also grabs hold of your lipstick to make it last a lot, lot longer.
“Apply it directly to the lip, making sure you go over the lip line to help prevent bleeding, and leave it to settle for a minute or two before applying your favourite lip colour as normal. Smudge-proof, budge-proof, life-proof. One less thing to worry about!”
Meet the multitasking hero
“Fix+ has so many uses, it’s no wonder it’s a make-up artist’s must-have and one of MAC’s hero products. I use it before foundation to help prep the skin, making it smoother and instantly hydrated.
“I also use it after foundation to set the make-up, helping it to last for up to 12 hours, and then I use it throughout the day to help keep the make-up looking fresh and the skin hydrated.
“I also use it to mix into foundation to thin it out, creating an oil-free tinted moisturiser. You can mix it with powder shadow to create a liquid liner or just use it as part of your skincare for those make-up free days.
“But my top tip: keep it in the fridge for a cooling fresh spritz on a hot day.”
Give skin a gorgeous glow
“This new kid on the Fix+ block, which was born backstage during Fashion Week, has been an instant hit. Not only does it contain cucumber extract, chamomile and green tea like the original Fix+, it also contains vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and essential oil to give added hydration. It leaves the skin with the most amazing glow too.
“Perfect for anyone looking to add extra moisture into their skincare routine but still works as a foundation primer, a setting spray and a make-up refresher. It’s your new BFF.”
Glow anywhere, any time
“MAC Strobe Cream really is a beauty icon. It’s one of a handful of products that helped put MAC on the make-up map. Anytime you saw a model with that amazing light down their legs in the 90s, it was most likely down to Strobe Cream.
“This illumination cream was used everywhere and on everyone. However, what a lot of people don’t realise is that it’s actually an incredible facial moisturiser first and foremost.
“Packed full of botanicals, vitamins and minerals, it deeply conditions skin, instantly improves the appearance and helps to even the skin tone over time. The glow you get from the pearlescent finish is really the added extra!”
Bat those lashes
“Imagine your perfect mascara and mascara wand. You’d want something that was rich in colour and deeply conditioning. You’d also want full fluttery lashes from a wand that gets to the root and those hard to reach lashes that seem to get missed, right?
“Well say hello to In Extreme Dimension Mascara. Whenever I want to make the eye lashes the focus of a look, I always know this bad boy will do the trick.
“Build fashion forward lashes the whole length of the lash with a spiky-tipped mascara wand to help you coat every lash – even the ones in those nooks and crannies.”
And there you have it, six must-have essentials straight from the make-up mogul. Excuse us while we add to basket…
